What do Latinos prefer to be called so we can be careful not to hurt anyones feelings.?

Question

come on golosa and pancha, since you all seem to be the ones offended the most. Call me anything you want, I'm not sensitive.

my nick name is cracker and I like it !

If no one knows...what the hell!

Answer 1

Well since they are really not latin (european) and not Mexican (spanish name) and not indian (wrong continent) I quess we are pretty much stuck with HEY YOU!!!

Answer 2

Pancha just used the word "Hispanic" in her question, and I use that a lot because it is a census term (sort of neutral). However, I saw a post today saying descendants of the Spanish are insulted to have anyone not from Spain be called that. I don't think you will hit on a term that everyone likes - particularly since in so many ways it is an arbitrary grouping.

I disagree that the term "Latin American" is appropriate, since that signifies a citizen of Latin America, not an American of Latin descent. Latino American, perhaps.

Answer 3

I'm Mexican and i don't care what i get called whether it's hispanic, latina, chicana, mexicana. it just depends on the person everyone has their preferences and others are more sensitive to subjects like that. just don't call someone a beaner or a wet back when they were born and raised here in the U.S. now that's offensive.....leave those comments for those mexicans who are coming here illegally and have only been living here for several years......those who refuse to adopt american ways and don't learn to speak english. even calling them beaners and paisas is pretty offensive so i dunno about that one.

p.s. if u don't know what they are then hispanic is prolly the safer way to go but if u know they are of latin american descent then u can call them latino. just don't call someone spanish latino! and chicanos are mexican americans so i don't think it applies to cubanos or puertoriquenos.

but yea i agree with jesito_sascec, some people fail to realize that it depends on what part of the U.S. you are from in deciding what u are whether its mexican, puerto rican, or cuban. they tend to stick together - mexicans mostly in the Southwest, cubans in florida, and puertoriquenos in NY. Its not the same thing either, way different accents, different slang, different cultures, and different food! even the people look a lil different and it just makes me mad how some people think that all hispanics are mexicans!! the majority prolly is but not everyone and then some people say it's all the same **** when it's really not! i'm mexican, not cuban or puerto rican.

Answer 4

The major problem is that Americans generally don't see a difference between Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and so on. If they're in the Southwest, they're all Mexicans, but if in Florida they're Cuban. New York and they're all Puerto Rican. Which suggests Americans don't care enough to learn the difference. That to them we aren't worthy enough to learn the difference between the groups. As a rule Hispanic is the word for the overall whole, and is the one to go with if you aren't sure which group they come from.

Answer 5

Being offended is a great way to try to back people off when you are wrong....

I am a southerner moved to Utah after living most of my life in Charleston SC. Very proud of my heritage, and...very much against illegals after attending their rally here May1. The chanted "AZTLAN" for 15 minutes! We came home and looked it up and have been actively fighting since.

Illegals have bombarded South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. If you think the border states are the only ones mad, think again...the south will lead the way in stopping this invasion of Mexico.

Keep up the good work in your state.

Thanks for your great questions...

Answer 6

Most PEOPLE I know, don't like to be put in any one group (it gets dicey!), except if it means they are going to get benefits over any other groups. (Like when you apply to go to college, or get a job or for welfare benefits ....in the USA.)
I mean, really. Last time I checked, French and Italian were refereed to as Latin based languages. (They derrive from the Latin language) Are French people Latins? I think not.
When one uses the term Latin it seems to relate to their language basis, not their race derrivation.
In fact, the majority of INDIANS that come from Mexico, are not native Spanish speakers but have their own language dialects that stem from ancient Mayan or Aztec language origins "Quiche" (sp?) for example. Very prevelant in the hills of Oxaca Valley, Mexico and into Guate. . The Spanish that is spoken in Mexico is not the same as Castillian that is spoken in Spain. It is a basdardization of Castill. Spanish (mix of Quiche and Castill Spanish). Argentina, in South American, does not speak Mexican Spanish for example.
There are of course, mixed races in countries South of the USA. Many indian folks have Spanish blood from the Span. conqistadores raping their inlaws. They are refereed to by some as Mestizos in Mexico. So, if anyone knows how to REALLY classify a person who is from these cultures, I'd like to know what the proper way would be?
Anyone every hear the song, "A Brown Eyed Handsome Man"? that was reffering to eye color ...in an apparently, Afro American, ***** person. Ha! (I guess the "eye's" don't have it either.)

Answer 7

I agree with some of you here.If you know their names there you go but if you are talking about a general group of people I would call them by their nationality.

Not to be rude but I for one am glad he asked this because WE are trying to learn.Some of us aren't trying to be mean.
I call some of them hispanics,the groups I see in the labor field I call migrants.
Since I can't tell a Dominican from a Puerto Rican ya'll are hispanic to me.

I agree ENOUGH with the politically correct crap.
GET OVER YOURSELVES!
Equal rights to some of you equals special rights to us AMERICANS since you are the only ones getting any help that I have seen.At least where I live.
If you don't like the name calling then maybe you should being the one saying crap about the others.And that goes for all of us.

IF YOU WERE BORN HERE YOU ARE AMERICAN!!!!!!!
I AM SICK OF THE CRAP ABOUT I AM HISPANIC OR SPANISH,OR WHEREVER YOU ANCESTORS OR PARENTS CAME FROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE NAME GET THE HELL OUT!

Answer 8

I'll call Mexicans, Well Mexicans and if they were born in the USA I call them Mexican Americans. But this is only when talking about large groups. Normally I call them by their names.. Like my ole buddie Omar.. I call him Omar. I have a black buddie and I call hime Ron. I have a white buddie and I call him by his name as well. I even have a few Thai freinds and I call them by their american name because I am not good with saying their real names.

Answer 9

These two like to do a lot of name calling, i've noticed, but then they start whining, if someone calls them some names! What hypocrites they both are!

Answer 10

Well my mother is Hispanic and My father American, so i guess i will be a "whitetrashwet" junior ............

People what's happen with you all, everybody is human! some better than others, but really I can see the different between anybody, there is not special people today!!!!!!!!1

Answer 11

your not walking on egg shells. Everything has to be Soooo politically correct these days it makes me puke...I dont give a rats *** if I hurt someones feelings or not, but then again, I try not to be intrusive....But, I dont sit around and worry, who am I going to offend if I say this, or that......People need to get a life and quit being big babies...